Machine for feeding and distributing containers



Dec. 4 9 1923, 1,476,023

M. F. PHELPS MACHINE FOR FEEDING AND DISTRIBUTING CONTAINERS Filed Sept.30 1921 3 Sheets-She c IW Iii Dec. 4 1923. L47623 M. F. PHELPS MCHINEFOR FEEDING AND DISTRIBUTLNG CONTAINERS M. F. PHELPS MACHINE FOR FEEDINGAND DISTRIBUTING CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 50. 1921 S Sheets-Sheet 5 #asAlito rimas Patented Dec. 4, 1923.

STATI-is 1,476,023 PATENT OFFICE.

HORTON I'. PHELPS, OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS, ASSIGNOB TO PHELPS MANUFAC-TUBING COMPANY, OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS, A PARTNERSHIP CONSISTING 0FFRANK PHELPS AND NORTON F. PHELPS.

MACHINE FOR FEEDING AND DIS'TRIBUTING CONTAINERS.

Application led September 30, 1921. Serial No. 504,300.

To all wiz-0m it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, Mon'roN F. PHnLPs, a citizen of the United States,resident of Little Rock, in the county of Pulaski and State of Arkansas,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines forFeeding and Distributing Containers, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in machines designed for feedingarticles, such as baking powder cans, and distributing them to othermachines where other operations are to be carried out in connectiontherewith. In the embodiment vof the invention shown and described inthis application I have illustrated the invention as applied to theconveying and feeding of filled cans of baking powder which aredistributed to suitable machines by which labels are applied to saidcans.

The invention consists generally in the constructions and combinationshereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: y

Figure 1 is a plan view of a distributing machine embodying myinvention, a portion of the can receiving end of the machine beingbrokenaway;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the can receiving end of the machine shown inFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section on line 3-3 of Figure 1,looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the portion of the machine shown inFigure 1; l

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 1, looking in the direction.of the arrows;

Figure 6 is a vertical section on line 6 6 of Figure 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows;

Figure 7 is a plan view of a portion of the machines shown in Figure 1,illustrating the gate-wheel unlocked so as to permit passage of the cansby said wheel;

Figure 8 is a side elevation partly broken away, of the drive for theupstanding live rolls of the conveyer.

In application No. 412,665, filed by me in the United States PatentOiice on September 25th, 1920, a machine is shown and described forlabeling cans, and the machine shown in-said application has beenlargely. used for ap lying labels to filled cans o baklng pow er. I findit desirable to ar-` range a 'number of these labeling machines side byside, and to arrange a corresponding number of stations to supply thelabeling machines with filled cans from a common conveyer or carrierwhich brings them from the filling and cover-applying machlnes. As thelabeling machines are not absolutely uniform in production there will beslight variations in the number of cans required for the differentmachines. It is, therefore, desirable to provide a series of stations atwhich the cans will pass from the vcommon conveyer to the individuallabeling machines, and to have each machine control automatically thenumber of cans fed to it.

Mechanism controlled by the labeling machines is, therefore, providedfor automatically regulating the supply of cans to each machine, wherebyeach machine is constantly supplied with as many cans as are necessaryto keep it in continuousV operation.

In the drawings, 2 represents the main bed of the machine over whichtravels an -endless conveyer or belt 3. This bed constitutes the mainelement of a longitudinally extending frame designated generally by .thereference letter A. and which is preferably supported at any desiredheight to permit a gravity feed of the cans from the conveyer to theseveral labeling machines. The bed 2 is preferably supported uponsuitable standards 5, 5, at asuitable height above the feed chutes ofthe labeling machines. Outer and inner side rails 7 and 8 extendlongitudinally of the frame A of the machine above the bed plate and theendless conveyer, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. These rails arepreferably supported by vertical standards 9. 9, and serve to retain thecans in upright position as they arev moved forward by the endless beltor conveyer 3. The endless belt passes around a belt pulley 11 at oneend of the machine, and around a corresponding pulley 12 at the oppositeend of the machine. rIhe pulley 11 is preferably driven through a shaft13, mounted in bearings 14` and as here shown the shaft 13 is providedwith a suitable gear 15, driven from a pinion 16, and driving pulley 17(see Figures 1 and 4).

By this means the shaft 13 and pulley 1t are driven at an suitablespeed, andthe conveyer 13 is a so driven at the 'desired s ed.

peSecured to the rear end ofthe bed-plate 2 is a casting 18 which formsa continuation of said bed, and extends to one side thereof. Thiscasting has a downwardly inclined portion 19 (see Figures 4 and 5)formed integrally with an outwardly sloping and preferably slightlyconcaved section 20 thus forming a chute `21 having a double incline bywhich the cans are turned down and rolled horizontally out of themachine (see Figures 5'and 6).

The outer rails 7 are preferably outwardly curved at theirrear ends andfastened to acurved section 18a of the cast-ing 18 and the inner rails 8are fastened to a curved section 18", so as to guide the cans broughtalong by the conveyer belt off from said belt, and `into the chute 21(see Figures 1, 2 and 5), from which they roll into a spout 22 by meansof which they are directed by gravity to the labeling machines.

I have indicated in the drawings (see Figure 2) an intake carrier orconveyer 23, which Amay be of any preferred construction, and b means ofwhich the cans are deliveredY onto .the endless Vbelt 3 from any desireddirection. The trough 22 has its lower end preferably supported on thefeed chute of the labeling machines (indicated in Figure 5, at 24), andthe upper end of this trough is carried by a. rod 26, mounted in links27, pivoted at 28 to the frame of the machine, andheldin an elevatedposition by a spiral spring 29 having its upper end adjustably connectedto a lug 30 upon the side of the casting 18, the lower end of saidspring being connected to the rod 26 near one end thereof. A wheellocking rod 31 is also connected to the rod 26 (see Figure 3) andextends upward, through a guiding lug 32 on the casting section 18a.

The upper end of the rod is bent over and turned downward (see Figures 3and 5) for the purpose of locking the rotatable gatewheel 33 ashereinafter described.

I provide a Stud 34: secured in a boss 35 preferably cast integral withthe casting 18 (see Figure 3), and upon the stud 34 I mount the rotatinggate-wheel 33 having preferably inclined arms or blades, as indicated inFigures 1 and 2. This gatewheel 33 is adapted to be rotated freely uponits support by pressure of the cans as they are brought in contact withthe successive arms of said gate-wheel as the main group of cans on thecarrier is being moved alon over the bed plate by the means described.Vhen said cans approach the end of the conveyer, they are directedlaterally by the curved portions of the rails 7 (see Figure 1). If theregulating gate-wheel 33 I provide means for blocking gambas is free toturn u n its supports said cans will pass onto thginclined wall of, thechute, and will be tip d down into a horizontal position, as in icatedin Figures 4 and 5, and said cans will roll out of said chute and intothe trough 22. Should a number of cans accumulate in the trough 22 sothat their weight is sulcient to move downward the upper end of thetrough 22 a ainst the tension of the spring'29 as in cated by dottedlines in Figure 5, the down-turned end of the rod 31 will be broughtinto the path of the gate-wheel 33 and will lock said wheel againstturning upon its axis, and thereby stop the discharge of cans into theAchute 21 land. trough 22. As soon as the l Cans, or a suicient number ofthem, have passed out of the trough 22, the spring 29 will raise theupper end of the trough, raising also the rod 31 and bringing its endout of the path of the regulating gate-wheel 33. As the wheel 33 isreleased the cans will begin again to pass from the conveyer 3 'into thechute 21 and the trough 22 as hereinbefore described.

I have indicatedl the three stations shown in the drawings at which cansare dischar ed from the'common conveyer to the labelmg machinesy as B, Band B2. At each station B, B or B2 there is provided a trough 22 and achute 21, so that each labeling machine may be supplied with cans fromthe endless conveyer 3, which is a. common conveyer for all of thestations and labeling machines with which itis arranged to operate. Theend chute 21 (the one at the` first or right-hand station B in Figure 1)has the cans guided to it by the laterally turned portions of the rails7. The friction between the cans and the endless conveyer 3 is suiicientto feed the cans regularly into the llateral chute 21 except when saldchute is ate-wheel `a 'suicient supply of cans has accumulated at thefirst station B. And in the same way the passage of cans at the thirdstation when there is a sufficient accumulation of cans at thefirst andso on for as many machines as may be any common and second stations,stations and labeling provided`| in connection with conve er.

As efore stated unless there is an accumulation of cans on the conveyerat the first station, all of the cans that arel brought forward by theconveyer will pass through the chute of the station B, the first stationto receive cans from the conveyer, although the farthest station from'the receiving end of the conveyer. As more cans are ordinarily fed tothe common conve er 3 than can be taken care of by one labeling machine,there will be an accumulation of cans in the trough 22 and a consequentlockinfr of the gatewheel 33 at the station B. 'Ibis will cause the cansto accumulate and crowd together on the conveyer near the station B, asindicated in Figure 1.

At each of the stations following station B I provide a gate-wheel 36,corresponding to the gate-wheel 33 and similarly7 mounte to rotatefreely upon a'stud 37. also provide a curve or off-set 38 in each of therails 7, and a slightly smaller off-set 39 in the rails 8, at a point ashort distance from the station B, and I provide at the side of theframe of the machine a locking arm 40, preferably having its forward endcarried by a link 41, and arranged in proximity to the gate-wheel 36(see Figures l and 7). The other end of the arm 40 is connected to abell-crank lever 41, pivoted at 42 upon the frame of the machine andhaving its long arm projecting inside of the curved portion 38 of therails 7 (see Figure l). A spring 43 is connected preferably to the endof the arm 40, and to a lug 44 upon the frame ofthe machine. Normallythese parts will stand in the position shown in Figure 7 and thegate-wheel 36 will be free'to rotate upon its stud. When, however, thegatewheel 33 at station B is locked the movement of the cans at stationB will be checked, and the cans striking the off-set 39 on the rails 8will tend to crowd together, and the can opposite the curved part 39, ofthe rail 8, will be forced towards the oit-set 38 in the side rails 7,as indicated in Figure l, and will press against the long arm ofthe'bellcrank lever 41, lpushing the end of the bar 40 into the path ofthe gate-wheel 36, as illustrated in Figure 1, locking said wheel andpreventing passage of any cans by the second station B At station B adcflecting lug 45 is preferably provided near the gate-wheel 36 as shownin Figure 1. This lug deilects each can towards the chute 2l of thisstation. If, however, the gate-wheel 36 is free to turn the cans willpass this station, being aided in such movement by the u right rotatingrolls 46, one ot said rolls lieing provided for each station after firstone, and all of said-rolls being provided with pulleys 47, and all beingpreferably driven by a common belt 48, from` a drive pulley 49, eachroll being arranged upon a short vertical shaft 50 mounted in suitablebearings 51, 52, the bearing 52 being secured upon the side ot' the bedplate 2. and the bearing 51 bein preferably carried by a bracket 53secure to the under side of the bed plate. When the gate-Wheel 36 atstation B is locked, as indicated in Figure 1 one of the cans will saidtrough.

be held against an arm of said gate-wheel bg' the movement of theconveyer belt and t e rotation of the live roll 46 and said statonarycan will substantially form a deflector contiguous to the defiectin lug45. The other cans, as they are broug t along the conveyer will,therefore, be further deflected by the stationary can, and will enterthe chute 21 at station B and pass to the labeling machine at thatstation.

' In the absence of a can held stationary by the roll 46 and thegate-wheel 36, the cans on the conveyer will be deflected by the lug 45against the roll 36, (See Fig. 2) the rotation of which in the directionof the arrow, will prevent the passage of any cans into the chute 21,but will cause them to move forward on the conveyer 3. A similar devicewill preferably be provided, at the side of the conveyer, between thestation B and the station B2 for locking a corresponding gate-wheel 36at station B2.

This arrangement may be duplicated for each station and labeling machinethat is to be supplied with cans from the common conveyer. l

While I have illustrated and described my invention as particularlyladapted for feeding cans of `baking powder to labeling machines it willbe understood that I do not limit myself to the use of the machine forany particular type or style of containers, or any particular materialenclosed in or carried by such containers, as the mechanism may be usedwithout reorganization for the feeding and automatic distribution, atdiferent stations, of a great variety of containers and other articles,

-I claim as my invention:

1. The combination, in a machine of the class described, with atraveling conveyer arranged to receive articles to be distrib` uted, ofa. plurality of .chutes leading from said conveyer and located atdifferent stations along the same, means arranged to receive articlesfrom each chute, and means located at each station for closingthepassage to the station chute when articles have accumulated in excessof a predetermined number in the receiving means.

2. The combination, in a machine of the class described, with atraveling conveyer arranged to receive articles to be distributed, of aplurality of chutes leading from said conveyer and located at differentstations along the same, a trough in connection with each chute forreceiving articles therefrom, and means operated by said trough forclosing the passage from the conveyer to the chute when articles inexcess of a predetermined number have been accumulated in 3. Thecombination, in a machine of the class described, with atravelingconveyer arranged to receive articles to be distribg5 v u naaoaa f`uted, of a plurality of chutes leading from said conveyer and located at'dierent stations along the same, a spring-supported trough" inconnection with each chute for receivin articles therefrom, and means,operate by the movement of said trough, for closing the passage from theconveyer to the chute when articles 1n excess o a predetermined numberhave accumulated in said trough.

4. The combination, in a machine of the class described, with atraveling conveyer arranged to receive articles to be distributed, of apluralit of chutes leading from said conveyer and1 located at dii'erentstations along the same, said conveyer being arranged, when the assageis not interrupted, to convey all of t e articles, received by it to thestation farthest from the receiving point, means at each station forclosing the passage of articles from the conve er to the station chute,and means locate at. each station and operated by the accumulation ofarticles in excess of a predetermined number on the conveyer at saidstation, for directing the passage of articles from the conveyer to thechute -at the next preceding station.

5. The combination, in a machine of the class described, with atraveling conveyer arranged to receive articles to be distributed, of apluralit ofv chutes leading from .said conveyer an located at di'erentstations along the same, said conveyer being arranged, when the passageis not interru ted,

to convey all of the articles received y it to the station farthest fromthe receiving point, means at each `station for closing the passage ofarticles from the conveyer to the station chute, and means operated bythe accumulation of articles in excess of a predetermined number on theconveyer at an station, for directing the passage of ar-l tic es fromthe conveyer to the chute at the next preceding station.

6. The combination, in a machine of the class described, with atraveling conveyer arranged to receive articles to be distributed, of achute leading from said conveyer and located at a predetermined pointalong the same, means arranged to receive articles from said chute,andmeans for closing the to the station passage from the conveyer chutewhen articles have accumulated in excess of a predetermined number inthe receivin means.

7. 'lhe combination, in a machine of the class described, with aconveyer arranged to receive articles to be distributed, of a chuteleading from said conveyer and into which articles may be directedtherefrom, of a gate arranged to close the passage from said conveyer tosaid chute, means for receiving articles from said chute, and meansoperated by the `reiving means for locking said class described, with atherefrom,A a gate said receiving means against the tension of itssupporting spring or locking said gate when a predetermined supply ofarticles has accumulated in the receiving means.

9. The combination, in a machine of the class described, with atraveling conveyer and guard rails extending longitudinally of saidconveyer and having an off-set portion, of a gate-wheel rotatablymounted in proximity of said conveyer and adapted to have an arm thereofproject over said conveyer and form a barrier to the passa e ofarticles, locking means for said gatew eel, and an actuating lever forsaid locking means having an arm projecting lengthwise of said conveyerin proximity to the oE-set portion of said rail, said lever beingarranged to be actuated by the ressure of an article on said conveyer tat is forced sidewise into the ofi-set rtion of said rails.

10. e combination, in a machine of the class described, with a travelinconveyer arranged to receive articles to be istributed, of a chuteleading from said conveyer, means for directin the articles from saidconveyer into sai chute, a downwardly curved bottom section in saidchute for tilting said articles, and an outwardly curved or slantingbottom motion for discharging 'said articles from said chute.

11. The combination, in a machine of the traveling conveyer arranged toreceive articles to be distributed and a discharge chute leadingfromsaid conveyer, of a guide member for said articles arrangedlongitudinally above said conveyer, a deilecting guide section fordirecting the articles to said chute, and a driven rotating memberarranged opposite said delecting guide section articles lpast saidchute.

12. The combination, in a machine of the class described, with atraveling conveyer arranged to receive articles to be distributed, ofguide members arranged longitudinall above said conveyer, a dischargechute leadi-l ing from said conveyer, means for conducting articles uponsaid conveyer past said discharge chute and means co-operatin with saidconveyer, said articles and saidg guide members for automaticallblocking the passage of articles pastsaid discharge chute and directinthem into said chute.

for directing thel class described, with a traveling conveyer arrangedto receive articles to be distributed and a plurality of dischargechutes leading from said. conveyer, of guide members arrangedlongitudinally above said conveyer means co-operating with said guidemembers for conducting all of said articles past one or more of saiddischarge chutes and directing them into a succeeding chute, means forlaterally displacing said articles upon said conveyer between saidchutes and means caused to operate by said displacement for directingarticles into the preceding chute when a predetermined number ofarticles has accumulated between said chutes.

14. The combination, in a machine of the class described, with atraveling conveyer arranged to receive articles to be distributed, and aplurality of discharge chutes leading from said conveyer, of guidemembers arranged longitudinally above said conveyer, irregular sectionsin said guide-members between said chutes for effecting a normal lateraldisplacement of said articles upon said conveyer when the articles arefreely passing said curved section and a greater displacement when thearticles are blocked on said conveyer between said chutes and means,caused to operate by the greater displacement of the articles, to blockthe passage of containers at the preceding discharge chute.

15. The combination, in a machine of the class described, with atraveling conveyer arranged to receive in an upright position othercylindrical articles to be distributed, of a chute leading from saidconveyer, means for directing the articles from said conveyer into saidchute, said chute being provided with laterally and outwardly inclinedbottom sections, whereby said articles are tilted into a substantiallyvhorizontal position and are discharged by rolling trom said chute.

In witness whereof, l have hereunto set my hand this 30th day of J une1923;.

